' 'we all live like a rose
that shines during the day
but when the sun goes to its place
it goes,wither with the day''

for my mother, my father she has
and father he has my mother
we live together in cave
like birds in their nest
i knew not my father was the nest
to be eaten by the motherly earth

the husband of my mother
i saw u last night
when we dined together
you never told me it was your last meal

the husband of my mother
last night together we dined
now you fell aslepp alone

the husband of my mother
why did your eyes remain close
please up and move me close

the husband of my mother
they are fighting the earth for you
with digger spade and shovel
putting you in your covered bed

the husband of my mother
hidding you under the earth
o!the husband of my mother
my mother's husband
when shall we see again
the husband of my mother

The newly elected Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, at a forum, warned his security aides against "over protecting him." He said they should not stop him from mingling with the ordinary people who he described as "greatest political asset."

A language of the future!

The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) through its Advancement Office is presently updating the institution’s Alumni Database. This initiative, as part of the University Strategic plan seeks to increase the database to 30,000 from the pool of about 66,000 graduates which the University has produced in the last 46 years of its existence.

We therefore appeal that you support this initiative by sending us the list of OAU Alumni that you know, stating their names in full (former names if married), course of study, year of graduation, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and current rank/status at work.

It would be appreciated if the information is sent to us through these addresses: advancement[at]oauife.edu.ng or alumnire[at]oauife.edu.ng.

We assure you that the information we receive will be treated confidentially.

Thank you.

Signed
‘Ronke Ajibola
Executive Director
University Advancement Office
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife.

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Something glorious has happened in Edo state of Nigeria. Something spectacular has dawn on us. What a glorious day? What’s spectacular? It’s because Justice finds its freedom in the hearts of men and women with unyielding bent for the truth.

Today, I say no forces on earth no matter how powerful could dim the light of justice forever. . No matter how daunted the dark clouds maybe, the light of justice finds a way through when the clock of darkness expires. This is because the life of justice is sustained by ordinary men and women emboldened in courage and truth, unguided by the forces of falsehood and greed.

Today, Edo State and its innocent people have found a new utterance. It's very rear in history, when the voice of a people suppressed by the might of evil finds freedom without violence. Good gracious. That new utterance is Mr.Oshiomole, and that freedom is you. And Edo people owe some of you a great deal of gratitude’s to those of you who refuse to bow to the overwhelming lures of slush money.

Mr. Oshiomole's victory is not for one singular party or one singular ethnic enclave, his victory is for those who have waited in baited breath for justice to rain down like mighty stream. Well, I say it's time now for you to exhale. Sing if you have to, dance if you have to, clap your hands if you have to, you are allowed to exhale, because the work ahead is enormous, it would take all of us - both believers and non-believers in justice to overturn the pervasive reign of poverty, diseases, and threat to public safety. Mr.Oshiomole Edo state governor elect, needs you to help fight the creeping creature of greed no matter where its coming from. This is our chance, this is our time, and this is our moment. Change has com, from America to Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East, etc.

Voices of change, justice for the voice less, “Yes We Can,”

As Nigerians continue to express their minds over the non-passage of the Freedom of Information Bill, the former Director General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr, Eddie Iroh, said the only valid excuse for not passing it would be that government has something to hide.

Speaking on the topic, “The Media and Democracy in Nigeria: a Marriage of Inconvenience,” on the occasion of the launch of National Waves Magazine, in Abuja, Eddie Iroh maintained that access to information is, as every true democrat knows, very critical to the expression of informed public opinion.

However, Iroh disagreed with absolute freedom, which he believed could wreck a nation. “I consider absolute freedom as more dangerous that no freedom. It is tantamount to license which is more likely to wreck than build a nation. Therefore our freedom must be disciplined by the imperatives of our national interest and security without which we cannot build the nation.”

Analyzing the relationship between the media and government in the service of democracy, Iroh said both plead national interest in the pursuit of their goals, “and it is national interest that has turned the altar of this marriage into a veritable battleground.”

He further stated that if we are to properly hold government accountable for its actions that touch the lives of the people and if we are to hold a mirror to the wrinkled face of our often ugly society, it will be difficult to avoid friction because in some misguided official quarters the holder of the mirror is often mistaken for the mirror. This mere act of holding that mirror will be seen in those quarters as unpatriotic, especially in this internet age where a global audience sees the mirror.

Iroh warned that the freedom of the press should not begin and end in holding governments to account, that the press should also hold itself to account. He added that our freedom should be a means to the end of achieving a free and developed society. “For too often we have tended to shy away from our own glaring inadequacies. We appear to ignore, or even collude with, the hypocrisy, deception, delusion and denial that bedevil our society.

TheSun

Change...
Change...
Change...
That is what happened
That was what Obama preached.
Peace...
Peace...
Peace...
Not heard
Change is coming..
It truly came
Change...
Change...
Obama changed.
That is a new concept in America
Change...
Let's laugh for change.
Change is possible.
Change...
We are all change.
New order in America
Change will change thinks
Change...
Fix America and renew hope
Change is permanent.
Change is Obama...
Celebrate Change first.
Then ask questions
Because Change is change.
Change...
Now that it is on ground.
Change will rebuild America
Change...
In my little opinion.
Change proved me wrong, and...
Change...
Only Change...the real change.
Change is definitely going to change things
Change is as of the beginning.
Change is Obama, the 'change-bearer'
The "Change-maker of America"
Change...
Truly came to America
Like never before...
Change! Change! Change!
That name is good---

Yes, he did! And you can be sure I did not swap names, that’s right: Obama’s campaign ran just like the kind of campaign Prof. Pat Utomi discussed with his team.

I had the rare priviledge of being close to the campaign Prof. Pat Utomi ran towards his April 2007 candidacy for the presidency of Nigeria and I wasn’t surprised when he told me sometime during Obama’s 21-month campaign that the ideas he saw in play were very close to what he advocated in Nigeria. I remember discussions around setting up RestoreNigeria.org, when he hinted that he wanted a grassroots campaign that allowed market women, students and every stakeholder to contribute their single-digit contributions so that government would truly be driven by these people (the true stakeholders) and not the moneybags who usually expect their own dividends of democracy after bankrolling campaigns.

He also insisted on creating a platform to allow all Nigerian citizens to contribute ideas towards the governance of Nigeria — as he presently advocates through the opposition website, www.shadownigeria.org. How could I also forget his choice of Web 2.0 tools during the campaign — he blogged at UtomiNotes.com, uploaded YouTube videos and he’s now on FaceBook! I remember a few people asking if he was truly the one running the FaceBook page himself, noting that Nigerian public officers are known to have secretaries who have deputies — who in turn have assistants (and those assistants often have Vice-Assistants). I also remember his request for some high-level animation to go along with his Public Declaration at the Musa Yar’adua centre in Abuja.

SMS was central to the Utomi campaign too. And you can probably remember that the words “change,” “values” and “issues” were not far from most of his speecehs! Okay. If he ran the kind of campaign Obama ran much after his own, how come he lost. Well, the answer is obvious: amongst many others that are too political for this page, many of us didn’t seal the deal. Think about the role that American youth played during Obama’s election and you’ll see a missing opportunity from our 2007 elections in Nigeria. How many of us were excited about the opportunity to vote for change following 8 years of a president who had become quite unpopular (let’s face it, they share similar near-exit ratings and I bet you know the two people I refer to here.)

Will we do something different in 2011? Will young professionals ensure that they are registered on time? Will students mobilise their friends towards active involvement in that election (and we know just how to do that, don’t we?) Unfortunately, Nigeria’s middle class has created a pseudo-government of their own by installing generators to replace a dysfunctional power utility company, bore holes to stand in for some agency we used to call “Water Corporation” when I was growing up, private guards (of all shades, sizes, uniforms and languages) to take care of what the “Men In Black” are paid to do, and self-created happiness (either through religion, extra hours with colleagues who’re also scared of the bridge during high-traffic hours at work or … you know) to make up for that joy that comes from a government’s fulfilment of its promises to her citizens. Thus, it is difficult for that same middle class to be bothered about elections, it’s only one of those things they’ve learnt to “endure.”

But not in 2011. The lessons of Obama’s choice as “leader of the free world” will be lost if we don’t wear the robes of citizen participation now — not when 2011 suddenly happens on us. We must start mobilising the majority that is right so that the minority that has held us bound can feel the pulse. This is already November 2008 and if you discount the holidays, 2009 is here. The budget debates and new year lull (and possibly some breaking news — as we usually have it but hopefully not with the price of PMS this time) will then make way for mid 2009 by which time the political parties will be preparing for the string of primaries and fundraising events that will lead to the full-blown campaign for April 2011. We should have new dates for some positions owing to tribunal rulings but April 2011 (or thereabout) will be time to decide who the next president will be.

We must not miss the opportunity to tell the world that Nigeria — just like the US — knows just when to surprise the world. We always do that with football, and we don’t lack the intelligence (or number) to achieve the same in the most important part of our socio-political existence. I know that we’ll have many Utomi-like (and if you prefer, Obama-like) campaigns towards 2011 but the difference this time should be our response to the call and deliberate choice to follow through with the message of change. We’re not lacking in technology gurus who can help mobilise 60% of Nigeria’s population (the youth) towards virtuous political involvement, and this should meet with political genius that can take advantage of that wave of change — and also deliver on its promise as, and when, due. Obama’s 21-month campaign and the 2007 candidacy of Pat Utomi are serious pointers to the possibilities that are ahead for Nigeria.

Regardless of where you are, get ready for the much-needed revolution. At home, on holiday, in diaspora, on extended stay, planning to return or officially back in Nigeria? Arise and obey the call. Arise, O compatriots. Nigeria’s call obey. To serve our Fatherland with love and strength and faith. The labour of our heroes past “should” never be in vain. To serve with heart and might, one nation bound in freedom. Peace. And unity! O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right. Help our youth the truth to know: In love and honesty to grow, and living just and true. Great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign! As for me, I pledge to Nigeria, my country: To be faithful, loyal and honest; to serve Nigeria with all my strength. To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory. So help me, God. The journey towards 2011 presents Nigeria with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to our place as (or fulfil the dream of becoming) the Giant of Africa.

My name is ‘Gbenga Sesan and I approve this message… but with no political ambition for now (maybe later).

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CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, CONGRATULATION TO A NON-RACIAL WORLD.CONGRATULATIONS TO HUMANITY.AND CONGRATULATIONS TO SENATOR MCCAIN FOR EARLY CONCESSION. ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.THANK GOD AND THANK AMERICA FOR GIVING US ALL A NEW WORLD.

He should be tired by now. It’s been a long 21 months of hard work (you can capitalize and underline that) and even though the strength you draw from speaking with a crowd of over 120,000 can be intoxicating, it’s already 11:30pm in his time zone and it will be a long day tomorrow — not with the thousands of names and roles that need to be sorted out.

At exactly 5am Nigerian time (GMT + 1) today, Barack Obama was declared the winner of the US elections — following one of the most interesting series of events (from the primaries through to election day) that literally caught the world on the edge of its seat. When he announced his candidacy, many laughed off the ambition of the skinny guy with a funny name, some admired his courage but wished he could wait for his own time and others simply told him what many of us have been told: don’t disgrace yourself. Now, after an almost impossible process that will be the subject of near-eternal analysis, that one is the leader of the free world.

As the fine words eased their way through his lips, my phone rang a number of times. Odd hours, yes, but there were many who stayed awake to watch the turn of events as the voice of the people was being interpreted through the votes of millions who despised the odds to support change. It’s the first time a man of colour will be president in the United States but that’s not the major attraction (even though no one can deny its historic significance). Yes, his success in this venture will help many truly believe that dreams do come true, including those eloquently expressed by a King who once had a dream. One of the text messages referred to the possibility of tears in the eyes of Rev. King but even if it’s tough to picture tears in the eyes of the dead, it won’t be difficult to imagine how his voice would have expressed the words: “Yes, we can!” Actually, he would now say, “Yes, we have!”

The major attractions here are the many lessons that this beautiful story (third in the series after Dreams of My Father and The Audacity of Hope) teaches the individual, developing nations and the world at large. It should now be a taboo for anyone to laugh at another person who dares to express their hope to become something greater than themselves — even if their name, background, experience or your assessment offer them no hope. It should also be a thing of shame for any African leader to offer up excuses that good leadership is far from those who are blessed with a certain skin colour. Born to a Kenyan father and discouraged by those who should be his mentors, Barry showcased an example in working deliberately towards set objectives. But as he said during his speech almost half an hour ago, the true winners are the people. Now, that is a direct challenge to the citizens of Nigeria and other nations where we have almost left elections to those who try to scare us away from the process.

Young Africans followed this election with so much passion. Many disagreed on the choice of candidates in elections that would not accept our opinion, but shall we shy away from that with possible outcomes that can shape our future? Ghana goes to the polls in December and many others (South Africa, etc) are waiting for 2009. Can young professionals shed the garment of apathy and decide to get involved? There would have been no President-Elect Obama if those who voted assumed that he was going against too powerful a machinery during the primaries, or if they returned home on election day because the queues were long. Many will spend much of today looking many times over at the same document (for lack of sleep) and the Kenyan government has declared a public holiday for Thursday. Will we see this same passion translated into citizen participation and possible contribution to the development of the land whose song we sing?

Congratulations, Barack, and all the best with the huge work ahead of you! For the rest of us, we have found inspiration to aim for any heights and we have seen the power of the seeming minority that refuse to stay away from a process that could tip the scale for them — and for generations ahead. It’s the day after Barack, let’s ride the wings of change here at home too.

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Ethiopia, a country of chronic food shortages and malnutrition, has launched an agriculture commodity exchange in a daring experiment to raise food production by creating a safe, transparent agriculture market.

The idea to create a commodity exchange was hatched by a former senior economist at the World Bank, Eleni Gabre-Madhin, who was born in Ethiopia and educated in the United States. Gabre-Madhin did her doctoral research on the role of markets in developing countries and refined her ideas while at the International Food Policy Research Institute. She now is the chief executive of the exchange.

Gabre-Madhin said the Ethiopian government began to consider a commodity exchange after the food crisis in 2002-2003; a bumper crop and price collapse in 2002 were followed by drought that threatened 14 million people with starvation the next year.

"In the bumper harvest, prices fell so low that farmers could not repay their loans, despite abundant production. The next year, not enough food was produced to feed the population. This led the government to think about the market: 'Why don't people store grain from year to year? Why can't the market deliver in bad times and save in good times?'" she said.

Although Ethiopia is the biggest grain producer in Africa, its traditional markets are small because of narrow networks of trust among buyers and sellers. "Most farmers trade within 12 kilometers of their farms and only with people they know," Gabre-Madhin said. She said more than two-thirds of farmers have faced contract defaults, and only 4 percent have received legal enforcement of contracts.

In the traditional trading system, grain changes hands four to five times between producer and consumer. With each change, the grain is put into new sacks. This system enables buyers to know what they are getting in terms of quality and quantity, as the contents are inspected and weighed, but it is vulnerable to price shocks.

The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange began operating in April, creating transparency and predictability in the national market and connecting Ethiopian commodities to international markets.

The U.S. Agency for International Development provided $1 million to launch the exchange.

The exchange provides warehousing, a reliable payment system, real-time market information, and quality control. Producers sell directly to the exchange, which assures payment within 24 hours.

"In the past, truck drivers took payment in envelopes filled with cash. It was never certain if or how much of the money would make it back into the hands of the seller," Gabre-Madhin said. Buyers in the traditional system do not know the quality of what they get unless they open up the sacks and inspect the contents. The exchange has assumed the grading task and guarantees the quality, so a distant buyer can be confident of what he is purchasing.

The Ethiopian exchange is linked to commodity markets around the world, making it possible for a trader in India, for instance, to buy futures of the prized Ethiopian lentils.

As for Ethiopia's major export, coffee, 461 coffee suppliers have obtained one-year memberships on the new commodity exchange.

"We're going to disseminate New York prices on our trading floor, and we'll feed our prices to the New York market. That means if you are looking at Ethiopian, Colombian or Rwandan coffee, you will have a basis for comparison," Gabre-Madhin said.

Agricultural traders have deluged the exchange with applications for membership, which, in Gabre-Madhin's view, is a sign that market confidence is building. "Worries about getting paid and getting the expected quality are being eliminated," she said.

Gabre-Madhin said she expects the exchange will create incentives for farmers to bring more of their produce to market. In the traditional trading system, about one-fourth of Ethiopia's grain is brought to market. She said the goal of the exchange is to handle 50 percent of Ethiopia's grain production in five years.

She said that nearly half of Ethiopia's rural households are net buyers of food. "Poor people buy food as well as sell food, which means that markets matter a lot, even at this low level of income," she said.

The exchange is not without its critics. Some say it will not work as a market institution because government officials occupy six of the 11 seats of the board. Gabre-Madhin believes that the government's involvement with the exchange will help it learn quickly how markets function.

Another concern has been that the exchange will further increase food prices, which have doubled in the past year. If Ethiopia's food-deficient neighbors can buy Ethiopia's commodities, then there will be less food for the country's already malnourished people, critics say.

Gabre-Madhin counters that the exchange is not the panacea for all of Ethiopia's food problems, but it is an important element for a functioning agriculture-based economy.

Barack Obama's grandmother has died at the age of 86, the US presidential candidate has announced.

Madelyn Dunham had been a key figure in Mr Obama's early life, and helped raise him in Hawaii. She had cancer.

When her health deteriorated last month, the Democratic candidate left the campaign trail for two days to visit her in Hawaii.

Mr Obama has spoken of their strong bond and referred to her in some of his most powerful campaign speeches.

Brazil will host the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings in 2008.

What is The G-20?

G-20 is an important forum to promote dialogue between advanced and emerging countries on key issues regarding economic growth and stability of the financial system. Brazil’s chair to this group aim to consolidate previous efforts and to give a stronger impetus towards a more balanced and stable environment for global economic.

Since 1999, the G-20 has contributed to strengthen the international financial architecture and to foster sustainable economic growth and development. In 2004, for instance, members agreed to the G-20 Accord for Sustained Growth and committed to standards of transparency and fiscal governance in order to combat abuse of the financial system, money laundering and terrorism financing. Moreover, the forum has dealt with financial crises, international co-operation policies and reform of international financial institutions.

For 2008, Brazil proposes dialogue on Competition in Financial Markets, Clean Energy and Economic Development and Fiscal Elements of Growth and Development. To follow with the discussions, there will be three technical workshops in the first semester and two Deputies Meetings. The objective of these meetings is to provide an updated view on those themes that will be further discussed on the Ministers' and Governors' Meeting.

As is usual practice, the organization of the G-20 events during the year will be shared between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. This year the G-20 will work closely with South Africa and United Kingdom, and other G-20 members, whose valuable experience will help promote a successful term. South Africa, i believe would promote the African peoples interests.

I am optimistic this forum can make clear its objectives and give young people a space to express, but would the proposed dialogue fail, what is our hope and future? We are expectant that the G-20 would make aFRICAN DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH A PRIORITY IN THE FACE OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS!

Helping to increase the food production of farmers in 25 to 30 of the countries most vulnerable to food shortages is a key aim of the United States' increased focus on agricultural development and food aid, says Josette Lewis, the top agriculture official of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

More than 920 million people worldwide do not get enough to eat. In 2007, the number of undernourished increased by 75 million because of rising food prices, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Addressing the World Food Prize Symposium held in mid-October in Des Moines, Iowa, Lewis said USAID especially wants to help small farms in sub-Saharan Africa double their yields of rice, maize and other staple crops by 2015 and increase farm incomes. The international community agreed in 2000 to a goal of cutting in half the number of people living in poverty and hunger around the world by 2015.

Cutting hunger and poverty in half is "an achievable goal," Lewis said, and one envisioned in proposed legislation now before Congress that would significantly increase U.S. support for agriculture development.

Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania have proposed $10 billion in new funding for international agriculture programs. For the period 2008-2009, the United States has committed $5.5 billion in foreign food and agricultural assistance.

The United States wants to "strengthen every link of the food-value chain," including agricultural research and information sharing, credit programs for small farmers and the use of new high-yield seeds that are resistant to diseases and drought, Lewis said.

Lewis said the United States will support more training programs for farmers in developing countries to help them use modern food-production techniques.

The training will help developing countries reduce by 75 percent their reliance on food aid, she said.

Lewis said USAID also is focusing on improving the nutritional value of the food aid it gives for children under age 5 and is refining its community-based nutrition monitoring programs. In addition, USAID is refining its forecasting tools to obtain better information on where a food emergency is likely to occur.

The United States is already working with other donor nations on the implementation of a strategy presented in June at an international forum in Rome to address the food crisis. That includes providing immediate aid to countries most vulnerable to rising food prices. Between 2007 and 2008, global food prices rose 52 percent, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The U.S. strategy also includes encouraging policies that can expand regional trade in farm products and ease infrastructure constraints such as poor roads and border checkpoints that slow trade, Lewis said.

In the long run, USAID plans to form partnerships with private-sector companies, she said.

She said a number of U.S.-based companies such as John Deere, Land O'Lakes Inc. and the Monsanto Company "have made it clear they are ready to step up" and partner with various organizations to help boost agricultural productivity and reduce poverty in developing countries.

"It's time for a second Green Revolution that enlists a broader array of actors," Lewis said, referring to the first Green Revolution in the early 1970s that increased agricultural yields through development of new varieties of grains. New types of disease-resistant wheat created then are credited with saving more than 1 billion people in Asia from starvation.

Also at the forum, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer and World Food Prize President Kenneth Quinn signed an agreement to enhance information sharing between the two entities and to bring more agricultural scientists and farmers from developing countries to the United States to learn about agricultural technology from their U.S. counterparts.

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Barack Obama sometimes gets ribbed for his outsized ideas, like the massive stage built in Denver, Colorado, to accept the Democratic presidential nomination. But an artist in Barcelona, Spain, may be about to outdo the candidate himself.

The artist plans to create a gigantic face of Obama sculpted from gravel and sand, which will cover nearly 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of Barcelona beachfront before the U.S. elections.

"The size of the piece is intrinsic to its value," the artist, Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, said Saturday.He hopes it will be big enough to be seen on Google Earth.

"Obama's personality -- his youth, personal history and message of a new politics -- has fused with the historical moment to create someone larger than life," says the artist's dossier about the work, titled "Expectation."

Poll of polls in the Netherlands calculated Friday indicates that 90% of Dutch children voted in favour of Senator Barack Obama, while 10% in favour of Senator John McCain. Amongst adults, 82% favoured Senator Barack Obama, while 11% for Senator John McCain.

Updated